China is making significant progress on its ambitious plans to establish a permanent lunar base in the coming decades. The project, known as the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), aims to build a comprehensive scientific research outpost on the Moon’s surface and in lunar orbit. The ILRS will enable multi-disciplinary research, exploration, and utilization of lunar resources, with the capability for long-term autonomous operation and eventual human presence.
Expanding International Cooperation
China has been actively recruiting international partners to join the ILRS initiative. To date, at least 14 countries have signed agreements to participate in the China-led project, including Russia (China’s initial partner in jointly announcing ILRS in 2021), Venezuela, Pakistan, South Africa, Belarus, Nicaragua, Egypt, Thailand, Serbia, and Kazakhstan, among others.
Additionally, organizations and institutions from countries like Switzerland, the UAE, Croatia, Colombia, and Indonesia have signed memorandums of understanding related to ILRS. China’s diplomatic efforts have largely focused on countries in the “Global South” and emerging economies, in contrast to the U.S.-led Artemis Accords which have attracted mostly Western nations and close U.S. allies.
According to Chinese officials, the ILRS program will welcome participation from 50 countries, 500 international research institutions and 5,000 overseas researchers. Partners will collaborate on the station’s design, development, operation and scientific research. New ILRS partners announced in 2024 include Nicaragua, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization and the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences.
A Multi-Phase Approach to Construction
The ILRS will be constructed in phases over the coming decades to establish an increasingly robust and versatile lunar research facility:
Phase 1: Establishing a Foothold (2020s-2030s)
The initial phase focuses on establishing a basic research station on the lunar surface between the 2020s-2030s. Precursor missions like Chang’e-7 (launching in 2026) will survey the lunar south pole to identify potential resource deposits and pave the way for the station’s construction.
The first surface station built by 2035 will have basic functionalities, enabling limited-duration scientific experiments and development of techniques for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Key goals of this phase include:
- Lunar reconnaissance and site selection with missions like Chang’e-6, 7 and 8
- Technology verification for the station’s command center
- Lunar sample return and large cargo delivery
- Start of joint operations with international partners
Phase 2: Expansion and Long-Term Operation (2030s-2040s)
The second phase, projected for the late 2030s to 2040s, will significantly expand the ILRS with the addition of a moon-orbiting space station serving as a central hub. The enhanced surface station will support larger crews and long-term research.
From 2031-2035, a series of five crucial missions (ILRS-1 through ILRS-5) will focus on completing the station’s core infrastructure and enabling long-term operations:
- Establishing energy, communications, and transportation facilities
- Conducting geological investigations and resource surveys
- Deploying astronomical observatories and space environment monitoring
- Performing biological experiments and verifying ISRU technologies
By 2045, the ILRS is envisioned to feature a practical, multifunctional lunar base with expanded science facilities supporting comprehensive research, resource development, and technology testing for future exploration.
Phase 3: Utilization and Preparing for Mars (2040s and Beyond)
After 2040, the ILRS will transition into a utilization phase, functioning as a base for extensive scientific research and resource development activities on the Moon. Continuous upgrades and expansions will increase the station’s capabilities.
In addition to lunar exploration, the ILRS will serve as a testbed for validating technologies required for manned Mars missions, such as:
- Long-duration life support and habitation systems
- In-situ propellant production
- Power generation and storage
- Autonomous operations
Experience gained from long-term human spaceflight activities on the ILRS will inform future missions to Mars and beyond. The station will also support ongoing robotic exploration of the Moon and serve as a communications/navigation hub for deep space missions.
Main Components and Layout
According to chief designer Wu Weiren, the completed ILRS will consist of three main sections:
Lunar Surface Section
The heart of the ILRS will be the lunar surface facilities, consisting of:
- Basic research station near the south pole by 2035
- Expanded base with energy, communications, and transport infrastructure by 2045
- Network of research facilities at the south pole, equator, and far side by 2050
Surface infrastructure will include power systems (solar, radioisotope, nuclear), communications networks, pressurized habitats, and garages for rovers and hoppers. Research facilities will support astronomy, geology, space physics, and biological experiments.
Lunar Orbit Section
A lunar orbiting station, the Queqiao constellation, will be established as a central node for the ILRS. It will provide:
- Communications and navigation for lunar surface operations
- Remote sensing and observation of the Moon and deep space
- A propellant depot and servicing point for spacecraft
- A rendezvous location for lunar landing/ascent and Earth-Moon transfers
The orbiting station will greatly facilitate access to and from the lunar surface and serve as a gateway for missions to Mars and beyond.
Earth Surface Section
The ILRS will be supported by an extensive network of ground stations and facilities on Earth for:
- Mission control and communications
- Astronaut training and medical support
- Science operations and data analysis
- Spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing
- Launch and recovery of lunar missions
These Earth-based facilities will form the backbone of the ILRS program, enabling 24/7 operation of the station and support for international partners.
Enabling Science and Resource Utilization
The ILRS will enable cutting-edge scientific research and exploration of the Moon’s resources to an unprecedented degree. Key focus areas include:
Lunar Geology and Prospecting
Detailed investigation of the Moon’s surface and interior will provide new insights into lunar formation and evolution. Robotic and human missions will explore features like lava tubes and the south pole’s permanently shadowed craters.
Extensive resource prospecting will map the distribution of valuable materials like water ice, helium-3, rare earth elements, and platinum group metals. Ground-penetrating radars and in-situ analysis will assess the viability of resource deposits for extraction.
Astronomy and Space Physics
The lunar environment offers unique advantages for astronomical observations, with its stable platform, lack of atmosphere, and radio-quiet far side. The ILRS will deploy telescopes and observatories for unprecedented views of the universe in visible, infrared, and radio wavelengths.
Earth-Moon Lagrange points and lunar orbit also provide ideal vantage points for monitoring the Sun and near-Earth space environment. ILRS instruments will study solar activity, cosmic rays, and the interaction between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere.
Life Sciences and Astrobiology
The Moon is a valuable testbed for studying the effects of reduced gravity, radiation, and isolation on living systems. ILRS experiments will investigate the long-term impacts of the lunar environment on human physiology and psychology, plants, and microorganisms.
Lunar samples and subsurface environments may also provide clues about the early evolution of life on Earth and the potential for life elsewhere in the solar system. ILRS astrobiology research will inform the search for habitable environments and biosignatures on Mars and beyond.
In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)
Utilizing local resources is key to sustainable lunar exploration and reducing dependence on Earth. The ILRS will demonstrate technologies for extracting and processing lunar materials like:
- Water ice for life support, agriculture, and rocket propellant
- Regolith for building materials, radiation shielding, and manufacturing
- Metals and minerals for solar panels, electronics, and machine parts
- Volatiles like hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon for propellants and industrial use
Several techniques are being developed to harvest these resources, such as:
- Thermal extraction of water from permanently shadowed crater ice deposits using solar concentrators or heating probes
- Hydrogen reduction of iron-bearing minerals like ilmenite to produce oxygen and water
- Molten regolith electrolysis to extract oxygen, silicon, iron, and other metals
- Magnetic beneficiation to concentrate valuable minerals from bulk regolith
ISRU validation on the ILRS will lay the foundation for large-scale commercial exploitation of lunar resources and in-space manufacturing. China sees ISRU as vital for long-term lunar settlement and deep space exploration.
A Stepping Stone to the Future
More than a standalone outpost, the ILRS is ultimately envisioned as the first step in a long-term roadmap for solar system exploration and expansion. Experience gained and technologies matured on the station will open the door to human missions to Mars and robotic exploration of even more distant destinations.
Some of the key capabilities the ILRS will demonstrate to enable future exploration include:
- Long-duration spaceflight and habitation beyond Earth orbit
- Advanced life support and recycling systems for air, water, and food
- Space nuclear power and propulsion
- Autonomous robotics and human-machine teaming
- Additive manufacturing and in-space assembly of large structures
- Interplanetary supply chain management and logistics
- Planetary protection protocols and closed-loop ecosystems
As a permanently occupied outpost at the frontier of human spaceflight, the ILRS will serve as a springboard for pushing deeper into the solar system. Missions to Mars, the asteroid belt, and the outer planets will all build upon the capabilities pioneered at the Moon.
At the same time, the station will enable transformative science and exploration of the Moon itself for decades to come. As our closest celestial neighbor and a witness to over 4 billion years of solar system history, the Moon still holds countless secrets waiting to be unlocked. The ILRS will provide unprecedented access for international researchers to probe this complex world and piece together its past, present, and future.
A Vision for Global Cooperation
Perhaps most importantly, the ILRS represents a new model for international cooperation in space exploration. By embracing a diverse set of partners and an open, inclusive framework for collaboration, China is seeking to position the station as a truly global endeavor.
The focus on emerging spacefaring nations and economies in the Global South reflects a desire to expand the community of space-capable countries and ensure the benefits of space are shared more widely. Providing opportunities for countries to develop their space expertise and contribute to cutting-edge research could help to democratize access to space.
At a time of increasing geopolitical tensions and rivalry in space, the ILRS offers an alternative vision of peaceful cooperation and shared scientific pursuit. While challenges and hurdles undoubtedly remain, the station represents a chance to transcend national boundaries and work together to unlock the secrets of the Moon for all humankind.
As the world watches China’s progress in the coming years, the success of the ILRS will depend not only on technical achievements, but also on the strength of the international partnerships that underpin it. If the station can truly live up to its promise as a platform for global cooperation, it may not only reshape the future of space exploration, but also offer a new paradigm for collaboration on Earth. The Moon has long been a source of wonder and inspiration for people around the world – now, it may also become a beacon for what humanity can achieve when we work together across borders in pursuit of knowledge and discovery.
